54
EXTERNAL ENVELOPE
There are still millions of UK properties that can benefit from the application of external wall insulation
The entire ethos behind EWI is to provide continuous insulation to the whole building, and technical and design teams are determined to avoid cold spots and thermal bridging at critical points on the wall. The use of timber to refit items instantly creates a cold spot – therefore potentially compromising the insulation system and reducing its thermal properties. Though this has been best practice in the sector for quite some time, it is purely because there has never been a commercially suitable alternative. However, fixing solutions have started to be more available to overcome these issues having been specifically designed and engineered for the refitting of items back through EWI. The fixing system is capable of making a structure completely water-tight. Alongside maximum thermal efficiency and the accompanying savings on annual fuel bills, clients are also provided the assurance of a product which is long-term, non-degradable and flexible to repair and maintain. It is important to be able to provide fixings that are compatible with the EWI system and will not compromise it in any way to ensure longevity. As well as being able to make available fixings to those who want to attach items to the external walls of their property, months or even years down the line.
Feedback was sought from EWI system designers – they said they welcomed the innovative fixing solutions and felt the products were simple and effective. Fixings are designed to be durable, and have been tested by the BRE for strength, compression
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
and achieved loading up to 130 kg, along with wind and thermal tests. They are also designed to be cleaner and easier to use than the current practice, minimising waste, and to be more sustainable. Providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to enhance EWI installations, the fixings are compatible with a wide range of exterior finishes including render, brick slip and ‘spar dash’ to enable architects to realise their design without any compromise. It is important that the re-fixing of items is considered as part of the tender process, with an approved product being used to protect guarantees and warranties. Therefore, it is important to ensure the fixings are incorporated into standard specifications instead of the previous issuing of standard drawings showing timber as a solution. Previously the specification of fixing solutions has fallen between installers and system designers causing ambiguity and confusion in the industry on who is responsible in the event of failure. However, since the introduction of
PAS2030 in 2017, there has been a change in the sector in considering the implications of the solutions currently used and there are now a number of EWI system designers who include the fixings as part of their systems, with many more recommending their use. With the introduction of PAS2035, we hope to see the complete elimination in the use of timber pattresses, and fixing systems becoming best practice.
Paul Brown is managing director and founder of Swifix
ADF JANUARY 2023
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
